Season series: The St. Louis Blues are going for a sweep of the four-game series, having allowed just one goal in each of their three victories -- including a 3-1 win last Friday.

Big story: The Blues have taken defense to a new level by shutting out their last three opponents, all on the road, including a 2-0 victory against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday that moved them into sixth place in the Western Conference playoff race. The Columbus Blue Jackets have had two days off to enjoy one of their best efforts of the season -- a 4-0 victory against the San Jose Sharks on Tuesday. A victory against the Blues is almost a must if the Blue Jackets hope to make the playoffs -- they enter the night three points behind the eighth-place Detroit Red Wings and play only one more game at Nationwide Arena, where they are 12-5-5, as opposed to a 5-11-2 record on the road.

Team Scope:

Blues: Not long ago, Brian Elliott looked he would have had trouble stopping a beach ball. These days, opponents would be lucky to get a marble past him. Elliott has rebounded from his early-season struggles with three consecutive shutouts, including the win at Minnesota on Thursday.

"He's been a battler for us," captain David Backes said. "[He] lays it on the line and has worked his butt off to get back into the shape he's in, as far as having that confidence, and knowing that every time he's in the net, we're going to have a great performance."

Blue Jackets: Regardless of whether their late surge carries them into the playoffs, the Blue Jackets look like a team on the rise. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky has emerged as a No. 1 goaltender and the acquisition of Marian Gaborik from the New York Rangers on April 3 has given Columbus the sniper it lacked.

"It's great for our young players to be playing big games like this because it is at a different speed, a different intensity," coach Todd Richards said. "To have to play at these levels, to play against these elite teams, is a great teaching experience."

Who's hot: Elliott, who will get the night off in favor of rookie Jake Allen, has not allowed a goal in 189:31. … Gaborik has two goals and five points in four games with his new club.

Injury report: The Blues are still without goaltender Jaroslav Halak (groin) and forward T.J. Oshie (ankle). Forward Jamie Langenbrunner (hip surgery) is out for the season. … Columbus expects to have forwards Brandon Dubinsky (illness) and Jared Boll (upper body) available after they sat out Tuesday night.

The win streak had to come to an end at some point. Don't let the losing be a pattern. The Blues looked really good in the first, but only got the one goal. Things may have been different if they could have cashed in on some of those chances. Now we've got 7 of the 8 remaining games and home, with the one game on the road being against Colorado. Things are setting up for the Blues but gotta get the wins.

#1 - Tank looks like he's getting very comfortable and I could see his game explode at any time now. He's really standing out as the best player on the ice when he's out there.

#2 - Jacks has started his traditional late season swoon. I was hoping that perhaps with a shorter season this year he may avoid it, but the condensed nature seems to be getting to him again. He's been really good this year and I'm not bashing him. Maybe Hitch should get him some rest and put Russel out there who plays really well with Polak anyways. Again...not benching him, resting him.

dmiles2186 wrote:The win streak had to come to an end at some point. Don't let the losing be a pattern. The Blues looked really good in the first, but only got the one goal. Things may have been different if they could have cashed in on some of those chances. Now we've got 7 of the 8 remaining games and home, with the one game on the road being against Colorado. Things are setting up for the Blues but gotta get the wins.

Yep. We need to look good against Chicago though. I always worry when a team snaps a winning streak that they will follow it with a losing streak.

theohall wrote:Shortened schedule caught up to the Blues legs the last 10 minutes of the 2nd period.

3 games in almost 4 days.. and that was only the second game!Though, (Frank) the blackhawks more

This Columbus game was the 6th game in 9 days and being the 2nd of back-to-back road games, fatigue looked like a major factor as the 2nd period went on. There was one point in the 2nd period where Leopold was seriously struggling going from the neutral zone to the defensive zone chasing down a puck and a Columbus player blew past him like there was nothing to it.

I'm not concerned. I'll be concerned if they look like shit against Chicago. If they come out guns blazing tomorrow and end up winning big, I'll be fine with that. They couldn't win out the season, I mean come on. That's impossible. Given the overall improvement I've seen since they made the two big trades, they're primed for the playoffs. Maybe putting Jaskin into the lineup will help offensively.